Ireland is the "short-priced" favorite to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup but one of its rivals is "really stepping up their efforts to nab it" from the country, according to the IRISH INDEPENDENT. French rugby magazine Midi Olympique is reporting that the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has been "making plenty of behind-the-scenes" maneuvers to overtake Ireland in the race to host the event in six years' time. New FFR President Bernard Laporte had dinner with World Rugby Chair Bill Beaumont where he explained that France would secure new sponsors and the bid would be built around the "attractiveness" of Paris. France last hosted the tournament in '07. South Africa, which hosted the event in '95, is the other contender. In the end, it is "a numbers game." Top tier teams such as England, Wales and New Zealand have three votes each, while second tier teams such as the U.S., Canada and Mexico "have just one vote." For Ireland to be successful, "the scoreline will need to read 19 votes to Ireland, out of a total of 37 votes cast" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 1/16).